#187

LUK 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

MAT 5:9 says, "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God," but the Lord Jesus Christ is the true peace maker.

>>As the result of Adam's fall, man became the enemy of God.

ROM 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

>>The blessed message of this heavenly host to the shepherds was that Jesus Christ had come as our peacemaker.

COL 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

>>In this blessed peacemaker the middle wall of partition was taken away, opening the way for you and I who are not Jews to have peace with God.

EPH 2:13-14 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

>>In Christ's finished work GAL 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

>>Righteousness and peace—were brought into unity in Christ.

PSA 85:10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

>>It was through, Christ's blood and righteousness that God has become reconciled unto the world.

2CO 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

>>Now as our Mediator, Our Lord Jesus Christ sends His ambassadors pleading for our will to be dissolved in the will of God as the condition of peace on our part.

2CO 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

>>Think of the condescension of the God of heaven, Who not only sent His Son to appease His wrath upon sin, but now He pleads with fallen man saying, ISA 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

>>No man need despair of finding salvation if their will is dissolved in the will of God.

>>Jesus tells us so plainly if we go lost it is because we would not come unto Him.

MAT 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

>>The Lord has clearly revealed His conditions of peace.

ROM 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

>>To entertain true peace with God we must follow Jesus as our example in peace making.

1PE 2:21-25 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

>>There is a rich rest for our souls by walking in Christ's example—in the midst of this world of unrest—this world of turmoil, of strivings and restlessness.

ISA 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

>>Coming into peace with God is much deeper than—just a peaceful—easygoing character—It is to experienced something of peacemaking between God and your soul through Christ.

>>True peace can only be obtained by fixing our eye upon Jesus Christ and what He has done.

HEB 12:2-3 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

>>All those who have truly found peace with God—after seeing the corruption of his own heart, desires to see his fellow man find peace with God JOH 4:28-29 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,

29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?

>>The heart of the true peacemaker flows with living waters, Jesus told the woman of Samaria in, JOH 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

>>In the parable Jesus gave in LUK 16:27-29 we see the urgency of seeking peace for our fellow man.

LUK 16:27-29 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:

28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

>>The true peacemaker who has learned to know himself will not have an "I holier than thou," attitude toward his fellow man.—He understands that others suffer from that same proud, self-centered character.

JOH 8:7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

>>A little self-knowledge takes away a condemning spirit.

JOH 8:9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

>>When we have come to peace with God through the blood of Jesus cross, as we become more and more conformed to the image of Christ we learn to understand the words of Jesus in, MAT 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

>>That golden rule is synonymous with MAT 22:37-40 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

>>Our hearts by nature can be so restless They are as a troubled sea: ISA 57:20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.

>>The ocean can appear to be calm at times,—but you know how quickly that wind just begins to blow—those waves mount up—

>>Often a troubled soul needs to awaken his Master MAR 4:38-39 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

>>When left to our self how quickly that storm arises—It is a life and death struggle in the heart—between the old nature of pride— and being able to crucify self.

>>Those waves of hurt feelings—those billows of revenge—that fighting for self— stirred up over what they said to me, what they said behind my back, those winds can blow so vehemently,

>>Those who have found peace in Christ shall come to their desired haven where there will be no more sea, REV 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

>>For then, that sea will be as glass, like unto crystal, REV 4:6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal:

>>That sea of glass, shall be mingled with fire—it shall glow with the presence of God, REV 15:2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

>>The beginning of this blessed peace shall begin in this lifetime.

PSA 133:1-3 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

PSA 133:2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;

PSA 133:3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.